Control mechanism for conveyers



Dec. 23, 1930. N, PREBLE' 1,786,085.

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR CONVEYERS Filed Jan. 11, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet l l NV EN TOR. Woe/100W Hum A TTORNEYS Dec. 23, .1930.

Ns HfPREBLE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR GONVEYERS Filed Jan. 11, 1926 3Sheets-Shegt I2 I NV EN TOR.

A TTORNEY I Dec. 23, 1930. N. H. PREBLE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR CONVEYERSC; Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. /VOA?M/9/V/f P 551;

Filed Jan. 11, 1926 ATTORNEY-1' Patented Dec. 23, 1930 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE NORMAN H. PREBLE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THECECIL R. LAMBERT COMPANY, OF DEIROI'J MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OFMICHIGAN CONTROL MECHANISM FOR CONVEYERS Application filed January 11,1926. Serial No. 80,664. i

The invention relates to conveyers and refers more particularly to themechanism for controlling the movement of one or more separateconveyers. One of the objects of the invention is to provide a mechanismfor controlling the movement of a reciprocable member for advancing aconveyer. Another object is to provide cam actuated means forcontrolling the movement of the reciprocable conveyer actuating member.A further object is to provide variable means for driving the controlcam. With these as well as other objects in view the invention residesin the novel features of construction and Figures 4 and 1 arerespectively an end view and a vertical cross section through a.

valve forming part of the control mechanism.

The control mechanism embodying my invention may be used with one ormore con veyers, which latter may be of the truck, platform or othertype. In the present instance I have shown the truck type conveyers 1and 2 which are spaced from and extend substantially parallel to eachother. The specific construction of the conveyers 1 and 2 is clearlyillustrated in my Patent Number 1,628,909 issued May 17 1927. Each ofthese conveyers is advanced by means of a pull bar 3 adapted to beconnected to the conveyer by suitable means such as a pivoted dog. Thispull bar is secured to a piston reciprocable within the cylinder 4, thearrangement of conveyer, pull bar, piston and 4 cylinderbeing clearlyillustrated in my Patent Number 1,628,909 issued May 17, 1927. 5 is asuitable valvefor controlling the inlet and exhaust of the pressurefluid such as V compressed air into and from each cylinder forreciprocating the piston. This valve has the housing 6 provided with theinlet and exhaust ports 7 and 8, respectively, and within which islocated the vertically reciprocable valve member 9for controlling thepassage of the pressure fluid through the ports and to or from theopposite ends A and B of the cylinder. 10 is a connecting rod secured tothe valve member 9 and pivotally connected to the armll' which issecured to the shaft 12 ournaled in the housing. This shaft has securedthereto beyond the valve housing the arm 13, which can be swung to swingthe arm 11 upwardly or downwardly, thereby correspondingly moving thevalve member. 1 V

F or actuating each valve member and thereby controlling thereciprocation of the piston and its pull bar 3, I have provided theprime mover 14 preferably in the nature of a constant speed electricmotor. This electric motor drives the variable speed transmission 15,which in turn drives the speed reducer 16 which then drives the camshaft 17, the drive connections between the various elements beingpreferably'sprocket chains. The cam shaft extends transversely andpreferably at one end of the cylinder or cylinders 41. This cam shafthas secured thereto a cam 18 for each cylinder adapted to actuate thevalve member 9 of that cylinders valve. 19 is a support adjacent to eachcam 18 and 20 is an arm pivotally mounted at its upper end upon thesupport 19 and pivotally connected at its lower end to the rod 21. Thisarm is preferably provided intermediate its ends with the roller 22journaled thereon and engaging the cam 18, the relative positions ofthepivot at the upper end of the arm and of the axis of the cam being suchthat gravity will normally hold the roller against the cam. The rod 21extends through the yoke 23 which is pivotally connected to the upperend of the valve arm 13 and this rod is provided with the nut 24 whichis adapted to abut against the inner face of the yoke base. 25 is a coilspring surrounding the portion of the rod 21 adjacent to the yoke 23 andhaving one end abutting the outer face of the yoke base and the otherendabutting the washer 26 which is adjustably held in place upon therod21 by'means of the nut 27 and lock nut 28 threaded upon the rod.

In operation, the rate of rotation of the cam shaft may be readilycontrolled by the variable speed transmission 15 to thereby control therate at which each piston and its pull bar reciprocates. During therotation of the cam shaft, each cam the con swings the control arm 20outwardly, which throu h the rod 21, coil spring 25 and intermediateconnections actuates the yoke 23, arm 13, shaft 12, arm 11 andconnecting rod 10 to lower the valve member 9. This movement allows thepressure fluid to pass to the end A of the cylinder i and the pressurefluid to exhaust from the end B of the cylinder so that conveyer isadvanced. When the piston reaches the end of its stroke, the valvemember is raised by a suitable connection 29 between the cross headsecured to the piston rod and the valve arm 13, thereby allowing thepressure fluid to enter the cylinder at the end B and to exhaust at theend A, at which time the piston returns to its original position withoutactuating the conveyor.

From the above description, it will be seen that a comparative low powerprime mover may be used in my control mechanism by reason of the speedreducer 16 and that the rate of rotation of each cam 18 may be varied byreason of the variable speed transmission 15. It will also be seen thateach cam is adapted to yieldably actuate the valve mem her 9 of thevalve in one direction and consequently allow actuation by another meansof the valve member in the opposite direction without damage to theparts. It will be further seen that the same control mechanism may beused for a series of conveyors inasmuch as the cam shaft may be providedwith a cam for each conveyer and that these cams may be fixed upon thecam shaft to actuate their respective valves at diferent times andconsequently provide for advancing the conveyers at different times, ifdesired.

hat I claim as my invention is:

1. The combination of a plunger reciprocably mounted within a cylinderand operated by a fluid under pressure for advancing a con veyer with astep by step movement, a valve controlling the passage of the fluid toand from said cylinder, a cam for actuating said valve and means fordriving said cam at different rates of speed.

2. The combination of a reciprocable plunger operated by a fluid underpressure for advancing a conveyer with a step by step movement, a.cylinder within which said plunger operates, a valve controlling thepassage of the fluid to and from said cylinder, a cam for actuating saidvalve and means for actuating said cam, including an electric motor, avariable speed transmission connected to said motor and a speed reducingmechanism between said transmission and cam.

3. The combination of, means operated by a fluid under pressure foradvancing a con veyer and a valve controlling the passage of the fluidto and from said means, a rotatable cam, a rod moved in one direction bysaid earn, an abutment upon said rod and a spring engageable with saidabutment "for actuating said valve in one direction.

4:. The combination of, individual means operated by a fluid underpressure for ad va-ncing a plurality of conveyers, a valve forcontrolling the passage of the fluid to and from each advancing means, arotatable cam shaft, a cam upon said shaft for each valve and ayieldable connection for actuating each valve from its respective cam.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

NORMAN H. PREBLE.

